The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1887-11-26

/ DltHt lac SDuhtu leaves covered the
earth. the whole landscape was dreary.
"It's spretty dismal. isn't il, mother"
said the old man. "Its good thing
we don't expect guests in this storm.
Well, | suppose we ought 10 be thank
ful for shelter this weather. and food
enough 10 keep Us from starving"
"Is that all we have, father" asked
his patient wife. I'VE have health,
and hope
"Hope Of what?" he asked. smiling
sadly. II think, my dear, you and /
shook hands with hope long ago and
bid il farewell" "
"Hope Of home where all these
longIngs and hcartaches will be over
o James. what can take that from
us?"
you are right" he said solcmnly.
land needed the reproof We will
make this kind Of sacramental day.
and wrcstlo with our griefs. as Jacob
did with the angel, until they bless Us.
Why. there j. a traveller out in all this
rain! lis looks as if he didn't know
which way 10 go.
"Call him in, James" said his wife
'Tm glad the Lord has sent some one
TO eat our Thanksgiving dinner with
u.s."
The traveller obeyed the call Of the
old man. and dashed into the yard.
stranger, this is heavy storm;
come in and stop until the rain holds
up Mr.. Forrest called out Put up
your horse in the stable there. w
have no servants. and can venture
into the rain to help you"
In few minutes the traveller stood
at the threshold. A tall. well-built man,
with heavy brown beard and mus
tache which nearly covered his face.
"Come in, come in," Mr.. Forrest
said. "Why, you are rs wet NJ a rat
Only my oyercoat." ho answered
in a hoarse voice. with your pcrmis-
sion, I'll stop minute in the hall and
take it of. "
He was IA long time getting off his
coat, and when he came in Mrs. For
rest was placing an ample meal on the
table. The stranger walked TO the
window and looked in.
"You have a pretty place here" he
said. "At least, it must be an attract
i've place in good weather.
"Ycs," answered the old man. with
sigh, 1--WE are fond of the old house
and its surroundings.
ado you live alone hcrc?'
A. 200, .,, L.. ,,.,y.,,l
He thought the stranger too inquisi-
tive. But dinner is ready. Take Il
seat"
The traveller noticed that at one
place there was n handsome china
plate, and in a glass near il. bouquet
of white chvysanthcmums and red GER
aniums. Naturally supposing that 1t
was scat of honor appropriated to
guests. he moved towards it. MTs
Forrest ncrvously waved him back.
"Not there, sir!' she cried. please
take this seat. "
Excuse me. madam" rs he took
the indicated place. "'m afraid you
will be disappointed in the guest you
expect, the storm is SO severe. But he
ought to have tried to come. There
should be no vacant place at Thanks
giving dinner.
alt is always vacant, sir" Mr.. For
rest said. at is notion of my wife's
to keep it for our boy. who left us fif-
teen years ago. You see, she has
always kept his plate on the yearly
returns of these days. and puts
bouquet of his favorte flowers near it.
1t seems to do her good To think be
will come back some day
"lIe will come back to it" she said,
quietly. H'vc always felt sure that
my boy would sit there face to face
with ME some day"
The strangers face worked convul-
sively. He suddeAy moved towards
the seat, and held out his arms to her.
Mother! mother!" he cried. with
tears filling his eyes. Don't you
know mc' Father. mother, I've come
back to you!'
She fell in his arms Nth glad cry.
But the father made ono step forward
and fell unconscious on the floor. II
was so unexpected, SO almost impos-
siblc, that the shock overcamc him.
But Joy seldom kills, and he was soon
restored to consciousness. and learned
with feeling of rapture. such rs for
many years he had not experienced,
that his son had come back reformed
man.
al did not mean to run away when l
left the house." David said. 1T WAS
only when was paying the money to
Nr Rapp that | realized the depth Of
my degradation. and fclt rs if could
never look either of you in the face
again | shipped a. sailor in ves-
sci bound to Brazil, and when it
reached there left it. and found work
up the country. did not write for |
thought you'd rather think of me as
dead My business prospcrcd. and
then, after | had accumulated some
property, began to long for home.
and for mother and for YOU. And So
have come back to see IL YOU still
care enough for me to take me back"
Ii was a Thanksgiving supper they
had that night, for the interrupted
dinner had been entirely forgotten.
DO you think that three happier people
could have been found in the world on
that Thanksgiving Day?- Youths Com
DgUfDn